State observes International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, December 03 2021:
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 2021 was observed at the state level on Friday under the theme 'Leadership and Participation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) toward an Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post-Covid-19 World' at Maharaj Chandrakirti auditorium, Palace Compound here.
The event was jointly organised by Department of Social Welfare and Office of the Chief Electoral Officer fCEO), Manipur.
Imphal West deputy commissioner Th Kirankumar and additional CEO Manipur N Praveen Singh were respectively chief guest and president of the observance function which was also attended by state commissioner for PwDs Th Dilipkumar Singh, director (Social Welfare) Ng Uttam Singh, and Theatre Centre, Manipur president Naba Wareppa as guests of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Th Kirankumar emphasised on ensuring an equitable environment that will be accessible for all.
He suggested that an assumption based approach will not be impactful and stressed the need for policy with thorough analysis of accessibility in view of the differently-abled persons and it should be action oriented for inclusive growth.
Whether a society has developed or not can be known from the view and treatment given by its people to the downtrodden and differently abled persons.
Hence, one and all should encourage differently abled persons, empower them so that they can become essential members of a society, he further observed.
Additional CEO N Praveen Singh expressed that the specific needs of PwDs should be considered and their innate abilities identified to give them the right platforms.
He highlighted various activities that have been initiated for accessible elections to ensure PwDs exercise their voting rights in the upcoming State Assembly Election, 2022.Till date, 13,827 PwDs have been marked in the electoral roll and it is expected that the number will increase in the final electoral roll which will be published on January 5, 2022, he revealed.
N Praveen also stated that marking of the PwDs will help in providing essential assistance on the poll day and make them avail the Assured Minimum Facility (AMF) in all the polling stations, facilitating them in casting their votes with ease.
During the observance, director (Social Welfare) Ng Uttam stressed that this year's theme focuses on ensuring that the differently-abled people also have equal participation in the growth and progress of the society.
It is an initiative to impart relevant education amongst them to strengthen their ability, he added.
Ng Uttam also highlighted the various awareness programmes conducted by the Office of CEO, Manipur to ensure inclusion of the PwDs in the upcoming election.
He said that the marking of the PwDs in the electoral roll is important to avail the various aid and facilities that will be arranged for facilitating them in exercising adult franchise.
A Manipuri drama Traffic Jam' based on a poem by noted poet Sampoorna Singh Kalra alias Gulzar, translated into Manipuri by playwright N Jadumani and directed by Leishangthem Tonthoingambi Devi was presented by the PwDs during the observance.
The programme was also attended by officials of CEO Manipur, Social Welfare Department, teachers and students.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Jan Vikas Samiti Varanasi and Handicapped Development Foundation Manipur jointly, organised a training programme on 'Prevention and Early Identification of Disability' at Pioneer Club Lamdeng Makha Leikai on Friday.
The programme was attended by Lamdeng Makha Leikai councillor I Ashokumar Singh; Development Foundation Manipur chairman Dr Sapam Jasowanta Singh; Pioneer Club Lamdeng Makha Leikai president, Kh Lokendra Singh and Women's Development Association Lamdeng Makha Leikai president Kh Jagoisabi Devi as presidium members.
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